1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse no oil flow? Car wont start?

SHIFTER141

MEMBER
1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
126,250 MILES

I bought this eclipse that was sitting for 1 1/2 years as a project car. We finally rebuilt the engine after 3 months, and replaced the fuel filter, changed the oil and filter. We started it once, and it ran just fine. Now we cannot get the car to start at all. It just cranks and turns. We know that the car is firing, but it just will not start. Today we checked the oil filter. And no oil at all, the filter is completely dry. What could be causing this? Also, before we bought the car, the window was broken out and the radio was taken. Could the CPU have been affected? Or is the motor just bad?

1 Reply

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

Hi shifter141,

Thank you for the donation.

If the oil filter is dry, either there is no engine oil in the sump, the oil pump is bad or the oil strainer is clogged.

Hope you have not damaged the engine with the running.

If the oil level is correct, then I woud suggest removing the oil sump to check the strainer first.

Some owners likes to add additives ( oil treatment) to the engine oil and over time, a thick layer of sludge sticks to the sides/walls of the internal part of the engine. When the engine is left idle for a long time, these sludges dries up and the nextme the engine is started, these dried up sludges would collapse in bulk and when this occurs, trhey would clog up oil lines or the strainer.

When oil does not get to the top of the engine, the pistons would be dry and this results in the compression droppping which could be the reason why you are not able to start then engine.